Collecting and Storing Tissue Samples From Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

- Establish a tissue/specimen bank of biologic specimens collected from patients with
proven or suspected head and neck cancer.

- Establish a database to link materials acquisition and pathologic and clinical
information on these patients.

- Correlate clinical-pathological findings on these patients with future scientific
studies using the patient database.

- Test new hypotheses as they emerge.

OUTLINE: This is a prospective, multicenter study.

Patients enrolled on active Radiation Therapy Oncology Group clinical trials undergo biopsy
or surgical resection of head and neck tumors or premalignant lesions at participating
institutions. Tissue and other specimens collected at the time of biopsy or surgery are
submitted to the Head and Neck Cancer Tissue/Specimen Bank which acts as a central
repository for processing, storing, and preserving patient specimens for translational
research. Tissue samples include paraffin-embedded blocks or fresh or frozen samples of
normal squamous mucosa, tumors, or premalignant lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract.
Other specimens for tissue banking include serum, plasma, and lymphocytes isolated from
peripheral blood, as well as samples of patient saliva. Cells obtained from tissue bank
specimens may also be used to establish cell lines for future research.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: An unlimited number of specimens will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Confirmed or suspected head and neck cancer

- Primary site recurrence allowed

- Potentially eligible for or participating in an active Radiation Therapy Oncology
Group treatment clinical trial

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Zubrod performance status 0-1

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- Concurrent radiotherapy, drug therapy, biopsy, or surgery allowed